A 21 Day National Workshop on ‘Prakrit Language and Literature’ was held at the institute between 18th May and 7th June, 2018.A Report
Parshwanath Vidyapeeth is committed to promote the study of Indian culture through imparting deep insights into the Shramana Tradition by organising seminars and workshops. There is enormous literature in Prakrit language. Majority of the Prakrit works still remains inaccessible to the scholars of Jainology as well as to those working in other disciplines because of non-availability of Prakrit texts with their translations in other languages.
For comparative and comprehensive study of Indian tradition, history, culture, literature, language, poetics, etc. knowledge of Prakrit is essential. Keeping in view the importance of the subject Parshwanath Vidyapeeth organised a 21 day National workshop on ‘Prakrit Language and Literature’ from 18th May to 7th June 2018.
This was the 8th workshop organised on the subject. Teaching of Prakrit generally aims to enable the participants to successfully attempt and comprehend each Prakrit words, derived from Sanskrit. In fact the pattern of this workshop is teaching Prakrit grammar through operational procedure employed in Sanskrit grammar. Sutras and rules of Prakrit grammar used in the texts were being explained.
The method adopted here for learning Prakrit language is drilling system. The formation of each word is analysed and rules of grammar applied in a particular word are explained. After attending this course one will be able to cultivate the knowledge of Prakrit.
The Inaugural function of the workshop was held on 18th May, 2018 at Parshwanath Vidyapeeth Seminar Hall. Prof. Harishankar Pandey, Former Dean, Faculty of Shramana Vidya Sankaya, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University was the Chief Guest and Mahamahopadhyaya Prof. Prof. K. D. Tripathi , Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Vardha and Centennial Professor, Bharat Adhyayan Kendra. BHU chaired the Inaugural Session. Shri D. R. Bhansali, Renowned Industrialist & Philanthropist, Varanasi, was the guest of honour.
There were 28 participants in the workshop from the different universities, i.e. Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, and Tilaka Majhi University, Muzaffarpur.
In order to provide a sound background of Prakrit Language and Literature, besides regular four lectures scheduled per day (60 lectures) on grammar, one special lecture was arranged daily by the eminent scholars of the respective field. Prominent among those were Prof. Maheshwari Prasad, Former National Professor, National Archives, New Delhi, Prof. K. D. Tripathi , Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Vardha and Centennial Professor, Bharat Adhyayan Kendra. BHU, Prof. Prabhunath Dwivedi, Former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit, MGKV, Varanasi, Prof. Ashok Kumar Jain, Head, Deptt. of Jaina and Bauddha Darshan, BHU, Varanasi, Prof. Kamalesh Kumar Jain, Former Head, Deptt. of Jaina and Bauddha Darshan, BHU, Varanasi, Prof. Pradyumna Shah, Deptt. of Jaina and Bauddha Darshan, BHU, Varanasi, Dr. Vijay Shankar Shukla, Director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Art and Dr. S. P. Pandey, Joint Director, Parhswanath Vidyapeeth.
